began to realize that he would have to catch up. Both Dunstone, Limited, and MI5 were committed to specific objectives. He could get lost in those commitments.
In some ways, he had lost already.
He intended doing something about that in the not-too-distant future. Certain... things would have to be made clear.
But choosing the team was his immediate concern.
McAuliffs personnel approach was one he had used often enough to know it worked. He would not interview anyone whose work he had not read thoroughly; anyone he did interview had already proven himself on paper. Beyond the specific areas of expertise, he cared about adaptability to the physical and climatic requirements, and to the give-and-take of close-quarters association.
He had done his work. He was ready.
'My secretary said you wanted to see me, Dr McAuliff.' The speaker at the door was the chairman of the geophysics department, a bespectacled, gaunt academician who tried not to betray his resentment of Alex. It was obvious that the man felt cheated by both the Royal Society and Kingston for not having been chosen for McAuliff's job. He had recently completed an excellent survey in Anguilla; there were too many similarities between that assignment and the Jamaican grant for comfort.
'Good Lord,' said Alex. 'I expected to come to your office.' He crossed to his desk and smiled awkwardly. He had been standing by the single window, looking out over a miniature quadrangle, watching students carrying books, thankful that he was no longer part of that world. 'I think I'll be ready to start the interviews this afternoon.'
'So soon?'
'Thanks mainly to you, Professor Ralston. Your recommendations were excellent.' McAuliff wasn't being polite; the academician's candidates were good - on paper. Of the ten final prospects, exactly half were from Ralston; the remaining five were free-lancers highly thought of by two London survey firms. 'I'm inclined just to take your people without seeing any others,' continued Alex, now being polite. 'But the Kingston Ministry is adamant that I interview these.' McAuliff handed Ralston a sheet of paper with the five non-university names.
'Oh, yes. I recognize several,' said Ralston, his voice now pleasantly acknowledging Alex's compliment. 'A couple here are... a couple, you know.'
'What?'
'Man-and-wife team. The Jensens.'
'There's one Jensen. Who's the woman?'
'R. L. Wells. That's Ruth Wells, Jensen's wife.'
'I didn't realize... I can't say that fact is in their favour.'
'Why not?'
'I'm not sure,' answered Alex sincerely. 'I've never had a married couple on a survey. Silly reaction, isn't it? Do you know anybody else there?'
'One fellow. I'd rather not comment.'
'Then I wish you would.'
'Ferguson. James Ferguson. He was a student of mine. Very outspoken chap. Quite opinionated, if you know what I mean.'
'But he's a botanist, a plant specialist, not a geology man.'
'Survey training; geophysics was his curriculum secondary. Of course, it was a number of years ago.'
McAuliff sorted out some papers on the desk. 'It couldn't have been too many. He's only been on three tours, all in the past four years.'
'It wasn't, actually. And you should see him. He's considered quite good, I'm told.'
'Here are your people,' said Alex, offering a second page to Ralston. 'I chose five out of the eight you submitted. Any more surprises there? Incidentally, I hope you approve.'
Ralston read the list, adjusting his spectacles and pursing his lips as he did so. 'Yes, I thought you'd select these. You realize, of course, that this Whitehall chap is not one of us. He was recommended by the West Indies Studies. Brilliant fellow, according to the chairs. Never met him myself. Makes quite a lot of money on the lecture circuits.'
'He's black, isn't he?'
'Oh, certainly. He knows every tongue, every dialect, every cultural normality and aberration in the Antilles. His doctoral thesis traced no fewer than twenty-seven African tribes to the islands. From the Bushwadie to the Coromantees. His research of Indian-African integration is the standard reference. He's quite a dandy, too, I believe.'
'Anyone else you want to talk about?'
'No, not actually. You'll have a difficult time deciding between your shale-bedrock experts. You've two very decent ones here. Unless your... immediate reactions take precedence. One way or the other.'
'I don't understand.'
Ralston smiled. 'It would be presumptuous of me to comment further.' And then the professor added quickly, 'Shall I have one of our girls set up the appointments?'
'Thanks, I'd appreciate it. If schedules can be organized with all ten, I'd like an hour apiece over the next few days; whatever order is convenient for everyone.'
'An hour...'
'I'll call back those I want to talk with further -